Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-02-24

HE may, don't you be too sure.
He looked awfully blue tonight when
he told me about it. Oh. girls! you
saw YOU are tired of the Sfe you are
living. So am /, and now let us go to
work and really amount to something.
Papa needs our help. and We may not
always have him. and then Wen be
sorry if we have let him struggle on
alone. working and worrying to keep
us in idleness, and to give us all the
pretty clothes and nice. easy time. we
wsnt," and Bee wiped her eyes and
resumed her seat on the bed again.
Quiet reigncd for few moments, then
Alice spoke:
Girls, Bee is right, and 1 am
ashamed of myself to think l have
lived along in this miserabiy selfish way
when l might have been of some real
use in the world"
"Oh! but Alice, think how dreadfully
people will talk" and May turned up
her pug nose in disgust.
LET them!' replied Alice. concisely.
"They will talk no matter what we do;
SO what is the use of thinking Of tha.?"
I'D so much rather write stories,
and earn money that way" said Ida,
tcnderly handling her pretty pen that
was such good servant to her slender
fingers.
''And I'd rather paint" said May,
I'D prefer to sing and give music
lessons, l will confess" replied Alice,
but girls, you know as well as do
that those professions are full and over
flowing now, and it is foolish for us to
try to make any thing out of them. l
shall offer my services to papa Jayne
as under book-keeper tomorrow. I'm
sure Mr.. Banks will be kind enough to
teach me. and IN time I'll make quite a
business woman
"Oh. Alice, you old darling! cried
Bee. impulsively, giving her sister a
good hug.
Il knew you'd stand by papa, and l
believe May and Ida will, too, when
they think it over"
I'm ready now," said Ida, soberly,
laying aside her pen, and standing up,
as if ready to begin work at once.
"Oh, girls, can't"' said May, COW
ering her face with her hands. '"lt's
too awful; and I'm sure our set will cut
u.s.
MAY Jayne, you are acting too silly
for any use," cried Alice; but Bee stole
to her sisters side, and putting her
arm around her said:
''You don't need to. May, dear. l
know its harder for you than for the
rest. We can do your part, too, SO don't
fret about it,
May looked up with smile through
her tears, and said, as she kissed Bees
loving face: you little rogue! you
know how to manage your old sister.
don't you? Well, girls, and she sighed,
she tried to laugh. "rm
with you, and if society and our friends
drop us, why We'll have to stay
dropped, that's ALL
''Our friends won't do any such
thing" said Alice, earnestly. "And
as we are tired of society, it won't hurt
us very badly to be dropped for time.
I'm so weary of this sort of thing" she
added, swinging her arms around,
THAT if this way hadn't opened be-
lieve I'd have hired out as wash
woman or a scrub-girl.''
"Oh, Alice don'tr' and May put up
her hands in horror Ida, seeing the
talk was ended, crcpt off to bed. leav-
ing Bee to do likewise, while Alice lay
awake planning the new life before |
them, upon which with all the ardor of
her strong nature, she fairly longed to
enter, us much as her prOuder sister |
May dreaded it.
The next morning the four girls met |
at the breakfast-table with their father
and mother, an unusual occurrence in
that family, especially after being out |
late the night before, as were both |
Alice and May, while Ida and Bee were |
up as late, if not out at a reception.
Breakfast, therefore, was Il very pleas
ant meal, for the girls laughed and |
as if they hadn't care in the |
world, and their good spirits were so |
that both Papa and Mamma
Jayne felt enlivened and ready for the |
days work and worries when they at |
last rose from the table.
Papa" said Alice. rs her father
opened the door to let his girls pass out !
ahead of himself and mamma. 1--WE |
wish to see you in the library for few
minutes. Mamma may come. too"
she added with smile. as her mother
looked from one beaming face to the
other to read the secret.
So the procession of six marched in
a stately manner to the library and en-
tered. Alice closing the door after her.
Now, Bee!' she said, when they
were all seated, with Bee on her
fathers knee. mamma ut his right |
hand. Ida at his left, and Alice and
May near by.
You tell" replied Bee. mcdestlv,